Cervical cancer in Europe

Even though respondents consider themselves equally threatened by all female and non-gender-specific cancers, awareness of the prevention of cervical cancer seems to be higher on average among all respondents.

Cervical cancer is the second common female cancer and can be significantly easier to treat if detected early.

In most countries, the regularity of advised smear tests (to detect cervical cancer) varies upwards from every six months to two years in Germany and France to every three years or more in Italy and Poland. In Spain however, a worrying 33 % of women never had a smear test.

Experts consider three- and five-yearly examinations from the age of 20-25 years sufficient - more frequent examinations have not been proven to produce better results in the prevention of cervical cancer.